Couple responds to Santa letters after finding them inside their Christmas decoration

SIGN UP FOR BREAKING NEWS

Couple responds to Santa letters after finding them inside their Christmas decoration

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 9:30 AM CST Dec 6, 2019

Hide TranscriptShow Transcript

STEWART: AS WESH 2’S MICHELLE MEREDITH REPORTS, IT ALL STARTED WITH A PLASTIC MAILBOX THEY BOUGHT AT A HARDWARE STORE THAT HAS 3 MAGIC WORDS ON THE FRONT MICHELLE: ON 11TH AVE IN MOUNT DORA, IT SITS AS BEACON OF CHRISTMAS, HUGE RED MAIL BOX THAT SAYS "LETTERS TO SANTA." WHO’S GOING TO ANSWER THE LETTERS? HAVE NO FEAR MY DEARS, LINDA AND JEANETTE BOKLAND HAVE IT UNDER CONTROL. THEY’RE REALTORS BY DAY, SECRET SANTAS BY NIGHT, AND LOVING EVERY MINUTE OF IT. >> WE HIDE IN THE WINDOW T WATCH PEOPLE, WE DON’T WANT TO SPOIL THE MAGIC WHEN THEY ARE PUTTING THE LETTERS IN, AND YOU CAN SEE HOW THEY ARE HAVING THEIR PICTURES TAKEN IN FRONT, WE’RE JUST HAVING A GOOD TIME WITH THAT. MICHELLE: WHERE DID THEY GET THE BOX? RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS LAST YEAR, THEY BOUGHT IT ON SALE FOR $50. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE $400. THEY PUT IT OUTSIDE AS A DECORATION, AND TO THEIR AMAZEMENT, THEY FOUND LETTERS INSIDE. AND FOR EVERY LETTER WITH A RETURN ADDRESS, LINDA AND JEANETTE RESPONDED. AND THAT’S HOW IT ALL STARTED. THIS YEAR, THEY PUT THE BOX OUT BEFORE THANKSGIVING, AND THE LETTERS HAVE BEEN POURING IN. MOST ARE FROM CHILDREN, MANY ADORABLY HANDWRITTEN, WISHING SANTA WELL, LOOKING FOR CHRISTMAS PRESENTS. I WOULD REALLY LOVE A BABY DOLL, A VISIT FROM MY GRANNY WHO LIVES IN INDIANA. THANK YOU AND MERRY CHRISTMAS. MICHELLE: SOME ARE FROM GROWNUPS, LOOKING FOR HOPE. >> ONE SAYS, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ANSWER. I AM 39 YEARS OLD. WE’RE GOING TO ANSWER. MICHELLE: SO THE GOAL THIS YEAR IS TO ANSWER EACH AND EVERY LETTER, AS SANTA WOULD. NEXT WEEK, THEY’LL HAVE A BUNCH OF FRIENDS OVER, THEIR LITTLE ELVES, SO TO SPEAK. IMAGINE YOU ARE A YOUNG CHILD AND WRITING A LETTE

Advertisement

Couple responds to Santa letters after finding them inside their Christmas decoration

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 9:30 AM CST Dec 6, 2019

What started as a cute decoration in front of their Florida house has become a calling this holiday season for one couple.The huge, red mailbox that reads "Letters to Santa" sits in front of Linda and Jeanette Bokland's home in Mount Dora.The Boklands bought the mailbox on sale for $50 last year and put it outside as a decoration. What they didn't expect was to find letters inside.The pair, who are realtors by day, have become secret Santas by night."We hide in the window to watch people, we don't want to spoil the magic when they are putting the letters in. You can see how they are having their pictures taken in front (of the mailbox). We're just having a good time with that," Jeanette said.For every letter with a return address, the Boklands respond.This year, the Florida couple put the box out before Thanksgiving and the letters have been pouring in.Most of the letters are from children, wishing Santa well and looking for presents. One girl asked for a baby doll and a visit from her grandmother who lives in Indiana.Some letters are from grown-ups, though, who are looking for hope."One girl said, 'You don't have to answer, I'm 39 years old.' We're going to answer," Jeanette Bokland said.The goal this year is to answer each and every letter as Santa would.Next week, the couple will have friends over to craft letters that will be mailed back in time for Christmas.

MOUNT DORA, Fla. —

What started as a cute decoration in front of their Florida house has become a calling this holiday season for one couple.

The huge, red mailbox that reads "Letters to Santa" sits in front of Linda and Jeanette Bokland's home in Mount Dora.

Advertisement

The Boklands bought the mailbox on sale for $50 last year and put it outside as a decoration. What they didn't expect was to find letters inside.

The pair, who are realtors by day, have become secret Santas by night.

"We hide in the window to watch people, we don't want to spoil the magic when they are putting the letters in. You can see how they are having their pictures taken in front (of the mailbox). We're just having a good time with that," Jeanette said.

For every letter with a return address, the Boklands respond.

This year, the Florida couple put the box out before Thanksgiving and the letters have been pouring in.

Most of the letters are from children, wishing Santa well and looking for presents. One girl asked for a baby doll and a visit from her grandmother who lives in Indiana.